Track-relay for electric signal systems.



i J. J.'RUDDIOK. 'TRAGK RELAY FOR ELECTRIC SIGNAL SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1912.

1 ,O69,027. Patented July 29, 1913.

COLUMBIAPLANOGRAFH :6 WASHINGTON, D. Q

WITED STATES PA TENT JOHN J. RUDDICK, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORT0 UNITED STATES ELEC- TRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF WEST NEWTON,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed August 17, 1912. Serial No. 715,565.

Yb all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RUnnIoK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Track-Relays for Electric Signal Systems, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representinglike parts.

This invention relates to track relays such as are used in connectionwith electric block signal systems for electric and other railways ofthat class in which the signal is set or restored by a car passing ontoan insulated rail section. In many block signals of this type thesignal-operating circuit, whether it be a signal-setting orsignal-restoring circuit, is normally open but is adapted to be closedby a track relay which includes a magnet in a relay circuit connected atone end to the trolley wire and at the other end to an insulated sectionof rail, the construction being such that when the car passes onto saidinsulated section of rail the relay magnet is rendered operative therebyto close the signal-operating circuit. a

The present invention relates to a track relay of this nature and hasfor one of its objects to provide a relay constructed so that the relaymagnet is in a normally-closed circuit, but is nevertheless maintainedinoperative until a car passes onto the insulated rail section.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a track relay which iscomparatively simple in its construction and which has other advantagesthatwill be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed outin theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a track relayembodying the invention, Figure 1 shows a double relay adapted for bothsetting and restoring a signal circuit; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the principle of wiring the relay.

In the drawings 5 designates the trolley wire or main conductor and 3, 4designate the rails of a railway track on which the car runs, saidtracks constituting the return for the main conduct-or as usualinelectric railway systems. One of the rails 3 has therein two insulatedrail sections 6 and 7.

8 designates the signal-setting circuit and 9 the signal-restoringcircuit. These two circuits are normally open and extend to a signal boxor boxes of some suitable character which it is not necessary to showherein, but which are arranged so that when the signal-setting circuit 8is closed the signal will be set, while when the signal-setting circuit9 is closed the signal will be restored. The signal-setting circuit 8 isshown as having two contacts 10 therein which are adapted to be closedby a movable contact or switch member 11 that is carried on an arm 12pivoted at 13 and having associated therewith an armature 1 1 for asignal-setting magnet 15. The signal-restoring circuit is also providedwith two normally-open contacts 16 which are adapted to be closed by amovable contact or switch member 17 carried by an arm 18 pivoted at 19and having associated therewith an armature 20 for a signal-restoringmagnet 21. Both the signalsetting and signal-restoring circuits 8 and 9lead to a common connection 22 which connects with the trolley wire ormain con ductor 5. The insulated rail section 6 co operates with thesignal-setting magnet 15 to set the signal when a car moving toward theright, Fig. 2, passes onto the insulated rail section 6, and theinsulated rail section 7 cooperates with the signal-restoring magnet 21to restore the signal when the car moving in the opposite directionpasses onto said section.

Inasmuch as this invention does not relate to the signal itself or themanner in which windings 23 are also connected to a comconnection 28 forthe magnet 21 leads to the rail section 7. Under normal conditions theinsulated rail sections (3 and 8 have no connection with the return, andthe current, therefore, will flow through both windings of each of themagnets and thence through the return connection 25 to the return 3. Aresistance 29 is interposed in the connection 26 for the purpose ofcutting down the voltage of the magnet windings. Since under normalconditions the current is flowing through both windings of each magnet,said magnets are neutral or inactive. l/Vhenever a car passes onto theinsulated rail section 6, then the trucks connect this rail section withthe return 4:. IV hen this occurs the current in the windin 23 passesdirectly to the return through the connection 28, insulated rail section6 and car trucks, and the winding 2st is thereby short-circuited. Theshortcircuiting of the winding 21 destroys the neutral condition of themagnet and the latter then becomes energized by reason of the current inthe winding 23. The energizing of the magnet attracts its armature 14thereby closing the signal-setting circuit at the contacts 10.

Then a car passes in the opposite direction and runs onto the insulatedrail section 6 the same result is attained relative to the magnet 21.

The device shown in Fig. 1 is made noninterfering by providing the arms12 and 18 with fingers 30 so situated that when either armature isattracted the finger 30 corresponding thereto stands in the path of theother finger 30, thus preventing the other magnet from being operated.

I have shown in Fig. 1 means for electrically connecting the insulatedrail sections 6 and 7 whenever a car passes onto either section. Theobject of this is to prevent any possibility that the relay circuit willbecome broken while the car is passing over the insulation between thesections 6 and 7, for it this should happen the passage of the car fromthe rail section 6 onto the rail section 7 would restore the signalwhich had been set. when the car passed onto the insulated section 6.The means for accomplishing this comprises a circuit 31 connected at itsends to the two ail sections 6 and 7, respectively, through theconnections 28, said circuit 31 having therein the two pairs of contacts32, 33 arranged in parallel relation. The arms 12 and 18 carry contacts34 and 35, respectively, adapted to bridge the contacts 32, 33 when thearms are operated.

Vhenever either pair of contacts is bridged, then the circuit 31 isclosed thereby connecting electrically'the two rail sections 6 and 7. Itwill thus be seen that whenever a car passes onto either insulated railsection the circuit 31 is closed and will remain closed so long as thecar is on either section.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a track relay for electric signalsystems, the combination with a main conductor and return, of a normallyopen signaloperating circuit, a magnet for closin said circuit, saidmagnet having connected in series two windings that are opposed to eachother, a relay circuit including said windings and connected at one endto the main conductor and at the other end to the return wherebynormally the magnet is neutral or inactive, and means to short-circuitone of said windings when the car enters a block thereby rendering theother winding operative to energive the magnet.

2. In a track relay for electric signal systems, the combination with amain conductor. of a track constituting a return and provided with aninsulated rail section, of a normally-open signal-operating circuit, amagnet for closing said circuit, said magnet having connected in seriestwo windings that are opposed to each other, a relay circuit includingsaid windings and connected at one end to the main conductor and at theother end to the return, and means for shortcircuiting one of saidwindings when the car passes over the insulated rail section.

3. In a track relay for electric signal systems, the combination with amain conductor, of a track constituting a return and provided with aninsulated rail section, of a normally-open signal-operating circuit, amagnet for closing said circuit, said magnet having connected in seriestwo windings that are opposed to each other, a relay circuit includingsaid windings and connected at one end to the main conductor and at theother end to the return, and a connection from said relay circuit at apoint between the windings to said insulated rail section.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. RUDDICK.

\Vitnesses LOUIS C. SM TH, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

